Essi Luttinen (Opera Skaala): “Our song represents a very unique music style” (Finnish finalist – Interview)

ESC+Plus has talked to Essi Luttinen (Opera Skaala), finalist of the Finnish national selection for Eurovision 2015 “UMK”. The mezzo-soprano will sing “Heart of Light” at today’s final.

ESC+Plus: Hello Essi! What did you feel when you were named finalist of UMK 2015?

I was naturally really really happy, overjoyed!!! Our semifinal round was very high-level and it wasn’t any foregone conclusion we would qualify to the final. It was also a big relief as I think we have achieved and won our biggest goal what we put to ourselves in advance by getting to the finals

E+: Can you tell us about you, your musical evolution and important achievements?

Opera Skaala is an independent company for contemporary opera, based in Helsinki. Skaala’s guiding principle is the search for new forms of operatic expression and perspectives for the making of art. The company reinterprets the conventions of opera in many ways, including venues, performance technology and musical styles. Founded in 1996, Skaala has mounted 20 world or Finnish premieres of new operatic works, including several highly acclaimed productions of operas by Philip Glass. In addition to being a recognized and award-winning opera company, Skaala is a sought-after collaborating partner both in Finland and internationally.

E+: Why did you decide to take part in UMK 2015?

The original idea of taking part in UMK 2015 came after our last premiere, ‘La Furia delle Costellazioni’, in which we  experimented this musical idea of combining baroque arias with EDM in the first place. After the performances we started to compose completely new song since the interest of the audience was remarkably high on this new genre and we thought that much wider audience should learn about this.

E+: What it would mean for you to represent Finland in Vienna?

It would definitely mean a huge break through internationally and all kinds of opportunities for us to expand our work and improve our possibilities to find new forms of collaboration on international arenas.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lOFv8abvVOI

E+: Your song is called “Heart of Light”. Can you tell us about the song and the story behind the lyrics? How was the composition procedure?

The composer-producer Oscar worked very strongly on the musical and other artistic solutions, but also I myself and the lyricist Janne Lehmusvuo were strongly participating the composing process. The song itself tells about the frustration of the opera as an art form not willing to change and be
renewed. In the end opera will gain its place back to the spotlight and to people’s heart where it deserves to be.

E+: Would you like to change anything from your stage performance?

I’m very happy with the work the director choreographer Reija Wäre has done what it comes to the show. I really love my male dancers, they make very artistic and stylish touch to the performance. The whole show was very much based on our own ideas and visions and in strong cooperation with us. I would very much love to see how this all would work on ESC stage with all the technical opportunities it can offer.

E+: What are your main strengths so as to get the people support to reach Eurovision?

Our song represents a very unique music style, and I’m sure both the singing and the performance would stand out of all the other songs on ESC stage this year. It is a strong, stylish and showy number which contains a lot of dramatic expression. I’m sure this show doesn’t leave anybody cold and with all the different elements it contains it manages to be also very entertaining and catchy.

E+: Do you usually watch Eurovision? What is your favorite song in the history of the competition?

I’ve always watched Eurovision song contest on tv even I’m not fanatic about it. I think it’s a valuable tradition which unifies Europe. My favorite song from last years was Loreen’s Euphoria. I also liked her performance, it was really touching and beautiful.

E+: What can this competition contribute to your musical career?

For my personal career it would be a huge leap. I’m sure I would gain a lot of different work opportunities both in my main field in classical music but also on other kind of unusual venues where I could continue bringing this distinctive crossover project.

 

E+: What can you contribute to the Eurovision Song Contest?

There has been seen some opera singers on ESC over the recent years but the crossover they have represented differs from ours. I think our combination of baroque opera and EDM is very pure in its style and doesn’t make any compromise to its genres. We haven’t come across anything like this in this scale even we have tried to search in the internet.

E+: Do you have any favourite song among the other UMK finalists?

I like Shava’s banghra song and Jounis Aslak’s ‘Lions and lambs’.

E+: Besides Eurovision, what are your goals for this year?

Opera Skaala is having its next premiere ‘Transit’ which is an ambient inspired opera combining ambient music, modern opera vocals, and modern dance expression. The premiere  will be this May in Helsinki. Till the end of this year we are planning to put back on stage an advanced version of ‘La Furia of the costellazioni’. Preferably it would happen on some untypical venue like a stylish night club with a cooperation of a DJ and solid dance group.

E+: Finally, would you like to send a message for our readers?

I want to thank all my voters for their support so far. For those who still hesitate I want to encourage to open their heart for this song even it would need more than one or two times to listen. Please go and click on our videos in YouTube and like us on Facebook. Stay tuned on our artistic agenda in the future and let Heart of Light melt your heart too!

You can follow Opera Skaala on their Official Facebook Page.